Sediment removal means for clothes washing machine



INVENTOR.

WINSTON l SHELTON Jan. 20, 1959 w. SHELTON SEDIMENT REMOVAL MEANS FOR CLOTHES WASHING MACHINE Filed Nov. 14, 1955 nited States SEDIMENT REMGVAIL MEANS FOR CLOTHES WASHING MACHINE Winston L. Shelton, JefiersontowmKy assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York My invention relates to clothes washing machines for domestic use and more particularly to such machines of the type having a vertical axis-agitator operating within a clothes basket.

In clothes washers having a vertical agitator, the agitator is commonly oscillated about its axis-in order to produce the washing action. By moving back and forth the agitator creates high turbulence within the wash water contained in the clothes basket, and this turbulence is effective to wash the clothes. In order to extract the wash water from the clothes after they have been washed the clothes basket is mounted forrotatable movement, and a drive mechanism is provided which rapidly rotates the basket upon the conclusion of the washing operation. The rotation of the basket centrifugally extracts the water in the clothes and also discharges it from thezbasket. While the rotation of the basketeffectively removes the water, the heavy insoluble particles-removed from the clothes during the washing operation, forexample; sand, silt, and the like, tend to remain in the basketeven after centrifugal extraction. Thus, when the machine is again filled with water, for example for the rinsingoperation,

these insoluble particles may be re-deposited -.on the clothes; or upon the conclusionof the-entire washing operation, deposits of sand or likeparticles may be-1eft in the bottom of the basket. This, of course,'necessitates a manual cleaning operation.

In order to obviate these'difiiculties it is desirable that the clothes washer be self cleaning, that is, that it automatically remove the heavy soil from the basket and dispose of it to the drain during the washing operation. It is therefore an object-of my invention towprovide a clothes washer including new and improved means for removing soil particles from the wash basket during the washing operation.

It is another object of my invention to provideanimproved soil removal means for use in a..clothes'w asher, which is not subject to clogging by objects such --as buttons, beads, marbles, or the like.

vA further object of myinvention is to provide animproved soil removal means which dischargeswthe soil particles through the bottom of thewash basket and which is equally effective'to remove soil particles from all sides of the bottom of the wash basket.

My invention is particularly directed to agitator type washing machines in which'theagitatorincludesanoutwardlyfiared skirt extending over a.substantial area;of the bottom of the wash basket. Insuch a machine the insoluble soil particles removed from the'clothes during the oscillation of the agitator tend to collect in the region beneath the agitator skirt because of thevervlimited turbulence created beneath the skirt compared with that in the main washing zone of the basket. iThislinvention provides new and improved means for removing the soil particles from the region'beneath the skirt.

:In onelpreferred form of the invention, the soil removal means comprises a soil trapping chanibepwhichis formed on the"botto'm of'the wash basket beneath the atent agitator skirt. The soil trapping chamber is provided with a plurality of perforations in its roof and with liquid discharge means in its bottom, whereby a flow of the washing liquid passes through'the chamber from the basket to the outer tub of the washer. This flow of liquid carries with it the soil particles from beneaththe agitator skirt so that they are conducted first into the chamber and thence into the tub. Since the roof of thechamber includes a number of perforations, the flow into it comes from all directions beneath the agitator skirt and'thus the soil particles are removed equally well from --;the basket no matter at what point they first move under the agitator skirt. The discharge means in the bottom of the chamber act as a flow metering means to control the rate of the flow. In the outer tub the soil particles settle out of the liquid, and the liquid is then returned to the wash basket by suitable pumping means for further use.

The features of my invention which are believed to be novel are pointed out with particularity in the appended claims. My invention itself, both as to its organization and method of operation, may be best understood by reference to the following description taken'in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a clothes washing machine including soil removal means embodying my invention, the view being partially broken away and partially in section to illustrate details; and

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the top plate-of the soil trapping chamber included in the'soil removal means.

Referring 'now to Fig. l, I have shown therein anagitator type'clothes washing machine 1. The machine 1 includes a clothes or wash basket 2 which is-disposed within an outer-imperforate casing or tub-3. The;tub-'3 is in'turn mounted within a suitable appearance cabinet 4. At the center of the wash basket 2 thereis positioned a vertical axis agitator fi which includes a centerpost 6 and a plurality of radially extending vanes 7. The agitator is further'provided with an outwardly and downwardly flared skirt 8 to which the vanes 7 are joined at their lower ends. The skirt 8 extends to-aposition in proximity to the bottomof thebasket 2 and covers a'sub- "stantial'portion of the area thereof.

Both' the clothes basket 2 and the agitator 5- are rotatablymounted. Specifically'thebasketfi is mounted-on a flange 9 of'a rotatable hub-lit, and the agitator-Sis mounted on a shaft (not shown) which extends-upwardly through the hubltl and the center post 6. The agitator issecured tothis" shaft by means of an internally threaded nut or cap '11 at the-top of the center-post. During the cycleof operation of the machine l'the agitator is first oscillated back and forth within the basket 2 to Wash the clothes therein. Then, after a predetermined period of this washing action, the basket '2 is rotated 'ata high speed to extract centrifugally the washing liquid and" discharge it into the outer'tub 3. In my-preferred cycle of operation a supply of clean water is then in- 'troduced into the wash basket for rinsing the clothes and the agitator is again oscillated. Finally the wash basket is once more rotated at high speed to extractthe rinse water and discharge it into the outer tub.

The basket 2 and agitator '4 may be driven by any suitable meanssincetheir drive means formno part of the present invention. 'Howeven'by way of example, I' have shown them as driven from a reversible motorIlZ. T he motor l2-drives the basket and the-agitator through a drive including a bidirectional clutch 13 which -is mounted on the motor shaft; The clutch lfl is direction responsive, and it is connected'by suitablebelts "to drive selectively the input pulleys 1 4- and 'hfiof 'a transmission assembly 16 depending upon the direction of motor rotation. Specifically, upon one direction of motor rotation the clutch drives pulley 14, and upon the other direction of motor rotation it drives pulley 15. The transmission 16 is arranged so that it supports and drives both the agitator drive shaft and the basket mounting hub 10. When the pulley 14 is driven by the bi-directional clutch 13, the transmission causes the agitator 5 to oscillate within basket 2. Conversely, when the pulley is driven, the transmission drives the wash basket 2 and the agitator 5 together at high speed for centrifugal extraction. Thus, the operation carried out, i. e. agitation or centrifugal extraction, is controlled by the direction of rotation of the drive motor, agitation occurring when the motor turns in one direction and centrifugal extraction occurring when it turns in the other direction. Although the drive mechanism does not form a part of this invention, reference is made to Patents 2,639,618 and 2,639,794 to J. W. McNairy, both issued May 26, 1953, and assigned to the General Electric Company,

assignee of the present invention. These patents disclose in detail the structural characteristics of the drive mechanism including the bidirectional clutch and the transmission assembly.

The transmission assembly 16, and thus the basket 2 and the agitator 5 which are supported by it, are supported from the cabinet 4 by means of a resiliently mounted frame 17. This is done so that some gyratory motion or vibration of the basket may occur relative to the tub 3 during the spin or extraction operation, the tub itself being rigidly secured to the cabinet 4. A flexible boot 18 mounted between the transmission casing and the tub permits the relative movement while providing a water tight seal therebetween. Preferably and as shown, the motor 12 and the clutch 13 are also mounted on the frame 17 so that they move with the basket.

For disposing of the liquid discharged into the tub during the extraction periods and also for recirculating liquid from' the tub to the basket during the washing period, there is provided a pump 19 which is secured to the bottom wall of the tub. The pump 19 is driven by the motor 12 through a flexible coupling 20 between the motor shaft and the pump shaft. While I have not shown the details of the pump herein, it is of the type discharging into one of two outlets depending upon the direction of the pump rotation. For example, a directional pump of the type disclosed by the copending application of John Bochan, S. N. 468,460, filed November 12, 1954, and assigned to'the General Electric Company, may be used. One of the two outlets of the pump is connected to a recirculation hose or conduit 21 for returning liquid to basket 2 through a discharge nozzle 22.

The other pump outlet is connected to a hose 23 which is adapted to be connected or disposed for discharge to a stationary tub or drain line. The pump 19 is so arranged that upon one direction of motor rotation corresponding to the driving of agitator 5, the pump outlet is discharged through conduit 21 for return to basket 2. Conversely, upon rotation of the motor in reverse direction for spinning basket 2, the liquid is pumped through conduit 23 to the drain. It will be understood, however, that a conventional pump with suitable solenoid operated valve means may be used in place of the directional pump to effect this result, and that my invention is not limited to a machine having a directional pump.

For the washing of clothes the basket 2 is filled with Water through suitable water supply means (not shown). Preferably the basket is filled completely full to the overflow level defined by a plurality of apertures 23a near its upper edge, and then a quantity of water is overflowed into the outer tub through the apertures. A suitable soap or detergent is either supplied with the water or added after the filling operation is completed. Then the agitator 5 is oscillated to produce a churning motion of the liquid and a tumbling motion of the articles of clothing contained within the basket. A certain amount of rubbing action between the layers of clothes and between the clothes and the vanes of the agitator also results. This combined action extracts the dirt or soil from the clothes. The detergent or soap suspends a substantial amount of the soil in the washing liquid, but it is not uncommon for the clothes to contain -a substantial amount of relatively heavy and insoluble soil particles which will not remain in suspension in the washing liquid. These heavy soil particles tend to sink and collect at the bottom of the basket, and while there is a tendency for them to remain in motion with the liquid, within a relatively short time most of the heavy soil particles pass into the region of relatively limited turbulence occurring beneath the skirt 8 of the agitator. Although the action of the vanes 7 is to create considerable turbulence throughout most of the basket, the skirt 8 acts as more or less a shieldwhereby very little turbulence is set up beneath it. Having once entered this region of limited turbulence due to their random motion within the washing liquid, the heavy soil particles then tend to remain therein.

My invention is directed to a new and improved means for removing the soil particles from beneath the agitator skirt. This means comprises a soil trapping chamber 24 which is formed on the bottom of the basket beneath the agitator skirt. The soil trapping chamber includes a plurality of perforations in its roof and liquid discharge means in its bottom whereby a metered flow of liquid is created from beneath the agitator skirt through the chamber into the tub. This flow of liquid carries the soil particles from beneath the agitator skirt into the chamber and thence into the tub. In this manner the soil particles are continuously removed fromthe wash basket during the washing operation.

So that the amount of washing liquid within the basket 2 will not be depleted by the soil removing flow through chamber 24, the liquid discharged into the tub is continuously returned to the basket through the pump 19 and the recirculation hose 21. The soil particles, however,

settle out in the tub before the liquid reaches the pump. 4

A pool of liquid is maintainedin the tub and this pool causes the water discharged through the chamber 24 to remain in the tub long enough, before it enters the pump, for the heavy soil particles to settle to the bottom of the tub. The soil particles remain in the tub until a later time when all of the liquid is pumped from the tub during the following centrifugal extraction stage.

To explain my improved soil removal means in greater detail, it will be seen that in the illustrated embodiment the chamber 24 comprises a recessed portion 25 of the bottom wall of the basket 2 and a plate 26 which covers the recessed portion 25 and serves as a roof therefor. The recess 25 is formed in the center portion of the basket bottom wall adjacent the hub 10, and its bottom slopes downwardly from the hub 10 to its outer edge. The plate 26 is secured over the recess by means of nuts 27 which are threaded on suitable studs attached to the basket hub. The plate is held by the nuts and studs at its inner edge, and at its outer edge it rests on a ledge 28 in the outer side wall of the recess 25. With this mounting it will be seen that the plate 26 can be removed, if necessary, for cleaning the chamber 24 or for other reasons. However, the chamber 24 is normally self cleaning so that only upon abnormal conditions is there any necessity for removing plate 26.

In order to create the soil carrying flow from under the agitator skirt into the chamber 24, the plate 26 is provided with a plurality of perforations or apertures 29. These perforations are disposed in an annular pattern around the basket hub 10 and are formed at the lowest point in the plate 26. The plate 26 slopes downwardly from its outer edge to the annular region including the perforations, and includes a raised hub portion on the inner side of the perforations. The slope of the outer portion of the plate aids in the movement of the soil particles toward the perforations 29 and the raised'hub portion prevents them frommoving inwardly beyond the perforations. Also, it will be noted thatthe ledge 28'on which the outer edge of the plate rests, is spaced far enough below the main portion 30 of the bottom wall of the basket that the outer edge of the plate lies somewhat below the adjacent edge 31 of thebottom wall. This drop-off makes it very diificult for the particles to escape back. into the'basket once they have moved from the main'washing zone of the'basket 'into'the regionbetween the agitator skirtiand the plate 26.

Since the perforations'29 are disposed in an annular or circular pattern around the basket hub, there is an equal flow. of liquid intothe chamber 24 from all sides. Thus no matter at which point the soil particles first move under the agitator skirt, they are drawn'through the perforations 29 and into the chamber 24 withequal emciency. Due to'the simultaneous andequal'flow from all points toward the perforations the soil does not collect at any point under the agitator skirt.

The liquid and soil entering intoithe chamber 24 through the perforations29 is discharged from the chamber through a plurality of apertures 32 provided adjacent the outer edge of the recess25. Fewer of-these apertures 32' are provided than there are perforations 29, whereby'theapertures 32 act as a metering means to control the rate of the soil carrying flow from beneath the agitator into the tub. Inother words the apertures'32 comprise the flow restricting. meansofthe. soil removal system, Although I" have shown a plurality .of .these apertures 32, it will be understood .that, if desired, only a single aperture 32 may be provided. .That. is, only. a single aperture of somewhat larger: size mayv be used as the discharge means from chamber 24.

'Althoughasmallernumber of theapertures'32 are provided, eachof them is Iargerin size than theperforations 29 in-the. chamber roof. As a result any particles which enter. into the chamber .through the perforations 29. are of necessity smallenough-so that they can be-discharged from. the chamber .through the apertures 32. Thus clogging of theapertures 32 cannot occursoas to interfere withthe proper operation of the soil. removal system. Since there are numerous of the perforations 29, the clogging of any one of them does not interfere materially with the operationof the system. The perforations 29 are, of course, large enough so that they will pass the largest silt or soil particles normally encountered in the washing operation. However, they are not large enough to pass particles-suchas buttons,'marbles, beads, or small pebbles, which if admitted to the soil trapping chamber might clog the apertures32. Duringany-one washing operation the perforationsi29' stop few if' any objects. 'However, it is contemplated that aftera' number of operations the operator will remove the agitator 5 and check to see if any of the perforations 29 have become clogged.

To insure that the soil particles entering the chamber 24 through the perforations 29 reach the apertures 32, the recess 25 is sloped downwardly from the basket hub to the apertures 32. The particles drop onto the inner portion of the recess and move readily down the inclined surface toward the apertures. Also, in machines having some basket creep during agitation, the creep aids in carrying the soil particles to the apertures 32. Basket creep is a slight movement of the basket to and fro with the agitator as it oscillates.

It is, of course, possible that all of the soil entering the chamber 24 during a washing operation may not be removed therefrom during that particular operation. However, due to the sloped bottom wall of the chamber and the positioning of the inlet perforations, the soil cannot readily escape from the chamber back up into the wash basket. Rather, having once entered the chamber it is trapped therein and can leave the chamber only "through the apertures 32. Thus there is no danger of the soil-being rdepositedon "the clothes during the rinsing operationor "during -a' subsequent washing operation. Rather, sooneror later the soil will be ultimately discharged into-the tub and-' removed therefrom.during a centrifugal extraction operation.

The soil particl'esdeposited in the tub by my soil removalsystem are removed from the tub during the centrifugal extraction-or spin stages of the machine. ""During a centrifugal extraction stage when basket Z' is rotated at a high speed, the liquid contents of the basketare very rapidly discharged into the outer tub. This results in 'a high degree of turbulence .in the tubwhichwashes the soil-particles collected during the agitation stage into thepump' 19 for discharge through'hose 23m the drain. Therefore, any serious or undesirable collection of insoluble soil particles within the tub' is prevented. Furthermore, as the centrifugal extraction period continues, all of the water is pumped from the outer tub carrying with it the soil particles which have not settled out of 'the' water. In any event, the insoluble soil particles are substantially removed from the outer tub during each centrifugal extraction period.

As mentioned above, in order for the soil particles to be collected in the tub for discharge during a centrifu gal extraction operation, it is necessary that a pool of water be'maintained in thetub during the agitate or washing period. This pool of water, of course, allows the soil particles .to settle out of the wash water before it is passed to the 'recircul'ationhose for return to the basket 2. The size ofthe pool required in the outer tub varies with 'thesize of the machine and'the rate of the flow through the soil removal chamber 24.

However, to give an example, in a size of the illustrated machine suitable for domestic use, the wash basketcontainsapproximately 15 gallons of waterand it is contemplated that water-will flow throughthe soil trapping chamber 24 at a rate of from 1 to 3 gallons per minute. The rate oflflow through the recirculation hose 21, is, however, abont6 gallons per minute, the recirculation flow being held at this rate by a suitable flow restrictor (not shown). "The excess water circulated'into basket 2 beyond the amount which is discharged from the basket through the soiltrapping. chamber 24 overflows through the apertures 2312 at the'top of the basket. In this machineit isdesirable that from 4 to o-gallons of water be introducedintothe outer tub at the time the basket is filled. .In'othenwords afterthe basket has been completely .filled the water supply is continued until from 4..to 6 gallon-s have been overflowed into the outer tub. Withthisamountrof water originally introduced into the tub and withlhefiow rates through the chamber 24 and the recirculation-hosetZl of approximately the volume indicatedabove, two to four'inches of water is presentrin the. outertubatall times during washing. With this-level of water in the tub, the water discharged through the apertures 32 remains in the tub long enough before it enters the pump 19 for the heavy soil particles to settle to the bottom of the tub. In fact, when this level of water is maintained in the tub, the liquid is substantially free of soil particles before it enters the pump. The soil particles, of course, remain in the tub until the following extraction stage when all of the liquid is pumped from the machine.

From the above, it will be seen that I have provided .an improved soil removal means which is particularly effective to remove insoluble soil particles from beneat the agitator skirt during the washing operation. Since the inlet to the soil removal chamber is through a plurality of openings or perforations disposed completely around the basket hub, the soil particles are effectively removed from the basket no matter at what point they first move under the agitator skirt. The provision of the separate flow restricting discharge apertures in the bottom of the chamber, of course, permits the inlet perforations to be provided in a large number and disposed completely around the basket hub. Since the inlet openings are smaller than the discharge apertures, the soil removal means cannot become clogged so as to interfere with its proper operation. Also, since the particles cannot readily return to the basket once they have moved into the soil removal chamber, there is no appreciable danger of their being redeposited on the clothes even though they are not removed from the chamber during that particular washing operation.

While in accordance with the patent statutes I have described what at present is considered to be the preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be, obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention, and I, therefore, aim in the appended claims to cover all such equivalent variations as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a clothes washer, a substantially imperforate clothes basket, an imperforate tub enclosing said basket, an agitator disposed within said basket having a center post and an outwardly flared skirt on said center post, means supporting and driving said agitator with an oscil latory motion on the axis of said center post thereby to wash clothes in said basket, said oscillatory motion creating only limited turbulence under said agitator skirt whereby insoluble soil particles collect thereunder, means on said basket forming an enclosed soil trapping chamher under said agitator skirt, a plurality of perforations in the roof of said chamber for conducting said soil particles from said basket into said trapping chamber in a flow of liquid, and discharge means in the bottom of said chamber for discharging the liquid and said soil particles from said chamber into said tub during the washing operation, said discharge means having a smaller flow capacity than said perforations and controlling the rate of the soil carrying liquid flow from said basket into said tub, and means for returning the liquid discharged into said tub back to said basket.

2. In a clothes washer, a substantially imperforate clothes basket, an imperforate tub enclosing said basket, an agitator disposed within said basket having a center post and an outwardly flared skirt on said center post, means supporting and driving said agitator with an oscillatory motion on the axis of said center post thereby to wash clothes in said basket, said oscillatory motion creating only limited turbulence under said agitator skirt whereby insoluble soil particles collect thereunder, means on said basket forming an enclosed soil trapping chamber under said agitator skirt, a plurality of perforations in the roof of said chamber and disposed around said center post for conducting said soil particles during the washing operation from said basket into said trapping chamber in a fiow of liquid, at least one aperture in (3 the bottom of said chamber for discharging the liquid and said soil particles from said chamber into said tub, said aperture having a lower flow capacity than the total of said perforations for metering the liquid flow from said basket into said tub but being larger in size than each of said perforations whereby it passes any particles entering said chamber through said perforations, and means for returning the liquid discharged into said tub back to said basket.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said aperture is spaced outwardly from said perforations relative to said center post of said agitator, and said bottom of said trapping chamber slopes downwardly from the center thereof to the region including said aperture to cause the liquid and said soil particles to flow to said aperture.

4. In a clothes washer, a substantially imperforate wash basket having a side wall and a bottom wall, an imperforate tub enclosing said basket, an agitator disposed within said basket having a center post and an outwardly flared skirt on said post, means supporting and driving said agitator with an oscillatory motion on the axis of said center post thereby to wash clothes in said basket, said oscillatory motion creating only limited turbulence under said agitator skirt whereby insoluble soil particles collect thereunder, said bottom wall of said basket having a recess under said agitator skirt, a plate disposed over said recess and forming therewith a soil trapping chamber, said plate having a plurality of perforations therein arranged in an annular pattern around said center post for discharging said soil particles into said chamber in a fiow of liquid, the bottom of said recess having at least one aperture therein spaced outwardly from said perforations for discharging the liquid and said soil particles from said chamber into said tub during the washing operation, said aperture having a lower flow capacity than the total of said perforations for metering the liquid flow from said basket into said tub but being larger in size than each of said perforations whereby it passes any particles entering said chamber through said perforations, said bottom of said recess sloping downwardly from the center of said basket to said aperture to cause said liquid and said soil particles to flow to said discharge means, and means for returning the liquid discharged into said tub back to said basket.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,378,925 White May 24, 1921 1,440,192 White Dec. 26, 1922 1,785,578 Dunham Dec. 16, 1930 2,218,276 Woodin Oct. 15, 1940 2,378,392 Candor June 19, 1945 2,481,979 Colley Sept. 13, 1949 2,761,303 Shelton Sept. 4, 1956 2,807,949 Molnar Oct. 1, 1957 

